Heater Core Replacement

[benm78]

Alright, I did my 30 minutes of due diligence and haven't found the answer clear yet. While I'm sure it is here somewhere.....

Does the A/C vapor compression cycle have to be broken to change the heater core? Do I need to get the A/C recharged, will I be opening refridgerant lines when I remove the factory A/C to get to the heater core (on my 68 F100 w/factory air).

Thanks,
Ben

[1971ford]

someone correct me if im wrong, but from what i remember when i rebuilt my factory heat/ac,

you should be able to unscrew and take the front off, and i think another panel behind that. then undo the heater lines, and replace the core.

the a/c system should not have to be touched although im not sure you could replace a heater/ac core with the system installed.

[fordman]

yes you have to take the lines off the whole suitcase comes out before you can take the case apart to put the core in. i have two questions. is that core bad in that low mileage thing or what? and where did you get a new core from?

[benm78]

Yeah, seems to be blowing that funky smokey mist. Also blows partially disintigrated dry-rotted foam from the heater vents, but I guess that's another issue! Not sure where to get a heater core from......are they hard to come by? I think the whole unit needs re-conditioned, including some ductwork/seals. Does the windshield defroster just typically do a poor job on these trucks or is this indicative of another problem?

I figured as much though, on the refridgerant. So now I need to find R12 to recharge the system......???....hmmmm..... Is there a means of R134a conversion for these?

Again, sorry for not doing my homework.....I'll dig into the manuals tonight.....but I'm impatient to know if this is a combined A/C - Heater core assembly or if they are seperately replaceable...?

THANKS!

[1971ford]

i would remove the whole heater/ac box and take it all apart for cleaning/repairing/replacing of parts.
thats what i did with my factory heater/ac before i put it in. im glad i did because there were tons of hidden leaves and stuff that i scraped off. i also repainted the back plates.

[4th effie n counting]

I believe NPD has heater cores for 68-72 with & without a/c. like $40-45.
I was looking in the new catalog for a distributor seal/gasket today, but i'm at work so i can't confirm part # for you til later tonight.

[benm78]

Thanks, I'll check there. LMC didn't show it w/AC and Dennis Carpenter didn't have any cores.....

[4th effie n counting]

you know, i ordered my LMC catalog 2 weeks before i ordered my NPD, and still haven't received it. I tossed the old one i had it was for up to 66 f100s

[fordman]

Yeah, seems to be blowing that funky smokey mist. Also blows partially disintigrated dry-rotted foam from the heater vents, but I guess that's another issue! Not sure where to get a heater core from......are they hard to come by? I think the whole unit needs re-conditioned, including some ductwork/seals. Does the windshield defroster just typically do a poor job on these trucks or is this indicative of another problem?

I figured as much though, on the refridgerant. So now I need to find R12 to recharge the system......???....hmmmm..... Is there a means of R134a conversion for these?

Again, sorry for not doing my homework.....I'll dig into the manuals tonight.....but I'm impatient to know if this is a combined A/C - Heater core assembly or if they are seperately replaceable...?

THANKS!

the defroster does work like that with these. i just let mine warm up longer. npd does have the cores but only a few of them. you can also order the old one if you have to and have a rad shop swap the tubes and top from your old one if you have to. these also were in the econoline vans as the standard heater. but eveyone i talked to had the deluxe heater in theirs so they arent exactly making them anymore. you can still get r12 but its expensive to have it refilled. the r134a conversion is available. it is just new screw on fittings for the high side. you mihgt try and see if you can do it without pulling the a/c lines. its been 20 years since i pulled my a/c out to put the core in. so i might not be remembering correctly

[rangerxlt72]

no one makes a core for factory a/c units. one would have to have the old one repaired or recored. you can take the core out without blowing the a/c charge but you literally have take the unit apart in the truck. I got bit by the core thing first of the year.

[ToughOldFord]

That's right, a good radiator shop should be able to fix it for you for a pretty reasonable charge.

[H-DFord]

I saw it in NPD catalog also. They show a core for truck with a/c. It shows to be a new item I beleive. Not looking at my book right now, but when I saw it got me to thinking of buying one and putting it up.

[benm78]

Ended up ordering from NPD, the "NEW" one for those with factory A/C. They sent the wrong one, for those without factory A/C. Since there were none in the country and no estimated date available, I used the core from the one they sent and had the end tanks swapped. Worked perfectly. Cleaned, painted, re-sealed where all the disintigrated foam had been lost and now can't wait to get the engine back together to try it out! Reconditioning this unit was a heck of a job.....but by following the procedure in the manual to isolate the compressor and condensor I think I will have saved some R12. There appear to be dry breaks at the compressor high side and the condensor inlet at the radiator support, so if those are working then the small amount of R12 that bled off may not totally compromise the charge.....we'll see!

[fordman]

that is the way to do your heater core if you cant find the fasctory air core. recently they just got a shipment of these cores to hit the country. these cores also fit e series vans with rear heat. the part number stars soemthing like c8uz i think it was. i have it written down some place.

[cw4rdmn]

yeah, just got my new lmc and they have it back now